About Small planet airlines
Small Planet Airlines: The Rise and Fall of a Promising Airline
Small Planet Airlines was a Lithuanian charter airline that operated flights across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Founded in 2007, the airline quickly gained popularity among travelers for its affordable prices and high-quality service. However, after a decade of successful operations, Small Planet Airlines faced financial difficulties that led to its insolvency in 2018.
The story of Small Planet Airlines is one of ambition, growth, and ultimately failure. In this article, we will take a closer look at the rise and fall of this promising airline.
The Early Years
Small Planet Airlines was founded in Vilnius, Lithuania by Vytautas Kaikaris and Andrius Staniulis. The two entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to provide affordable air travel to customers who were looking for an alternative to traditional airlines.
In its early years, Small Planet Airlines focused on providing charter flights for tour operators across Europe. The company quickly gained a reputation for its excellent customer service and attention to detail. As demand grew for their services, the company expanded its operations to include scheduled flights as well.
Expansion Across Europe
By 2012, Small Planet Airlines had established itself as one of the leading charter airlines in Europe. The company had a fleet of over ten aircraft and operated flights from several European cities including London Gatwick Airport (LGW), Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL), Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) among others.
In addition to expanding their route network across Europe's major cities; they also started operating long-haul routes such as Zanzibar Island from Poland which proved popular with holidaymakers seeking exotic destinations at affordable prices.
Financial Troubles
Despite their success in expanding their route network across Europe; things started going wrong financially when they decided to expand into other markets such as Cambodia where they launched operations under the name "Small Planet Cambodia" but later withdrew due to regulatory issues with Cambodian authorities which resulted in losses amounting up-to €10 million ($11 million).
Furthermore; there were also allegations that some employees were not paid on time or not paid at all which led them into strikes resulting into flight cancellations causing further losses amounting up-to €20 million ($22 million).
Insolvency
After years of rapid expansion followed by financial troubles; Small Plane Group filed for insolvency on November 28th 2018 citing cash flow problems caused by delayed payments from clients who owed them money worth millions while also facing stiff competition from other low-cost carriers like Ryanair & Wizz Air who offered similar services but at lower prices than what Small Plane Group could afford due-to high operational costs incurred during expansion phase resulting into bankruptcy proceedings being initiated against them by creditors seeking repayment totaling up-to €50 million ($55 million).
Conclusion:
In conclusion; it is clear that despite having ambitious plans initially backed-up with strong growth rates during early years followed by rapid expansion across multiple markets both within & outside EU region - ultimately leading towards financial troubles caused mainly due-to over-expansion without proper planning or risk management strategies put-in place coupled-with stiff competition posed-by other low-cost carriers offering similar services but at lower prices than what they could afford - eventually leading towards insolvency proceedings being initiated against them resulting-into bankruptcy declaration made-by court-of-law thereby ending-their journey abruptly leaving behind memories-of once-promising-airline now relegated-into history-books forever!
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